Why was the diet of Xenacanthus geared toward accessibility rather than bulk?
Answer
To optimize energy use in slow-moving, low-oxygen waters.
The dietary focus of Xenacanthus on smaller, readily available prey like small fish, crustaceans, and insects reflects a primary evolutionary pressure: energy optimization in a poor environment. In the sluggish, low-oxygen conditions of the ancient swamps, expending significant energy on high-speed pursuit of large prey would have been unsustainable and risky. By being an eater of opportunity and focusing on accessible food sources in the benthic layer or near the substrate, the shark maximized caloric intake relative to the energy output required to secure that food.
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